Features
REPUBLICANS UNITE BEHIND TRUMP
by Vijaya Chandrasoma
Last week saw the continuing disintegration of the last vestiges of opposition against Trump’s Republican nomination for the 2024 presidential election.
Competition
Trump’s leadership of the Republican Party seems unassailable. He is leading his rivals for the Republican nomination for 2024 by at least 30 points, with former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley edging Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for second place, the only two reaching double digits. Haley may be enjoying a moment, but she seems destined for the undercard on the 2024 Republican ticket.
Conservative politicians, including his under-performing rivals for the nomination, refuse to publicly criticize Trump’s mental and moral deterioration, his lies, his ignorance and his vulgarity, his multitude of arrests and impending and ongoing criminal trials. They go with the Party’s treasonous flow, in fear of Trump’s kindergarten taunts, social media posts of wrath, and revenge by the armed, violent, white supremacist goons that constitute his “cult”. They also fear, if they do publicly denounce Trump, they will be “primaried” and lose their jobs in the next election. Self and treason before country and democracy is the current mantra of the Party of Trump.
In a recent speech announcing the suspension of his candidacy before a Republican Jewish conference in Las Vegas, former Vice President Pence said, “The Bible tells us that there’s a time for every purpose under heaven. …. It’s become clear to me that this is not my time. So I have decided to suspend my campaign for president, effective today”.
The fact that it was not Pence’s time became clear when his support in the polls had dwindled to 4%, his campaign finances dried up and it was doubtful if he would even qualify for the third Republican debate, scheduled for November 8 in Miami, Florida.
In any event, it has been clear to most Americans that the 21st century has never been “his time”. Pence’s time was in 1620, when he should have been the leader of the Christian Pilgrims who made landfall on Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts, on the Mayflower.
Snowballs would have a better chance of surviving in hell, rather than any of these losers getting the better of Trump. His nomination for the 2024 Republican presidency seems to be locked. He will contest the presidency even as a convicted felon under house arrest, pending prison sentence. The only Republican who has any chance of beating Trump is Trump himself. And, on current form, he will.
Disqualification to Run for the Presidency – The 14th Amendment
Hearings began last week on the lawsuit filed by Republican and unaffiliated lawyers in Colorado, represented by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). A case to determine whether the 14th Amendment disqualifies Trump from running for president in 2024. Several objections by Trump’s lawyers to have the case dismissed have been denied.
According to a strict interpretation of Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, Trump should be disqualified from ever holding public office. His guilt in the incitement of the January 6 insurrection was obvious to anyone who owns a TV receiver. However, it is likely that the case, which will ultimately be decided by the corrupt US Supreme Court with its 6/3 Republicans majority, will be Dead on Arrival.
The Israeli Holocaust
I hate to waste many words on the Israeli-Palestine War, when the logical conclusion, the illegal annexation of Palestine by Israel, is predictably foregone. A war intensified after the gruesome massacre of 1,400 Israeli civilians, men, women, and children by Hamas terrorists on October 7.
As brutal as this attack was, Netanyahu has since been waging what he terms “Israel’s War of Independence”. The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) already has killed over 9,000 Palestinian civilians in Gaza, and seriously wounded another 22,000. The Israeli airstrikes have been targeting hospitals and refugee camps, on the pretext of going after Hamas terrorists. The ground invasion of Northern Gaza is also under way. To confine attacks on Hamas terrorists alone is an impossible task, as these terrorists live among nearly two million Palestinian civilians in the tiny, 140 square miles of land that is the Gaza Strip.
The Israelis produced gruesome pictures of civilians, men, women and children brutally tortured and killed by Hamas, on October 7, which sickened the world. Now the world is sickened by equally gruesome pictures of Palestinian civilians, men, women and children, being murdered, hospitals and refugee camps demolished by Israeli airstrikes. Both sides, the sovereign state of Israel and the terrorist group of Hamas continue to be guilty of violating international law and committing war crimes.
Netanyahu is totally against even considering a ceasefire, and any attempt to negotiate a political solution, is as unlikely as that may seem. But international opinion is that this ceaseless killing of innocent civilians must stop, at any cost.
The fate of the near 240 hostages, including Americans, remain in the balance. Mediation with Hamas by Qataris, at the request of the Americans, to secure the release of the hostages seems to be making some progress.
As I said, there is only one conclusion possible to this injustice perpetrated by the Europeans and Jews against the Palestinians since 1947. Netanyahu’s Israeli version of Hitler’s Final Solution will soon result in the Biblical Jewish State of Israel. The Palestine homeland would have ceased to exist, and Palestinians exterminated or displaced in the not-too-distant future.
There is ominous evidence that Hezbollah, the terrorist organization backed both by Iran and Russia, has its fingers on the trigger. The possible escalation of the conflict to another full-scale Middle-Eastern war, involving the participation of the superpowers, may precipitate the unthinkable.
Americans, Republicans and Democrats, have always stood firmly behind Israel during this genocide and illegal annexation of land belonging to Palestinians, land which has been their home for centuries. And why not? White Americans have extensive historical experience in the successful, violent and illegal occupation of land belonging to indigenous peoples.
Anti-Semitic and Islamophobia Attacks in the US and the World.
Since the October 7 Hamas massacre and the resultant Israeli war against Palestinians in Gaza, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has recorded a 388% spike in anti-Semitic attacks across the United States, directly linked to the war. According to ADL CEO, Johnathan Greenblatt, “When conflicts erupt in Israel, anti-Semitic incidents soon follow in the US and globally….We are witnessing a disturbing rise in anti-Semitic activity here, while the war rages overseas”.
FBI Director, Christopher Wray acknowledged that threats of violent domestic terrorism have “surged as the conflict in Israel escalates”. This is violence targeting both Jews and Muslims.
The recent war against Palestinians has resulted in an explosion of Jewish hatred throughout the world. One especially disturbing act last week was the burning of the Jewish section of Vienna’s central cemetery, with Nazi swastikas desecrating external walls.
Flipping of Co-Conspirators
Many of Trump’s co-conspirators are entering into plea deals in the state and federal cases against him. Many have agreed to testify against him on condition of immunity or milder penalties.
The most damning co-conspirator to so flip is his former Chief of Staff, Mark Meadows, who was Trump’s right-hand man in all his dealings in the attempt to rig the 2020 election, before and after the date. He was also seen to be involved in the planning and attempted implementation of the January 6 insurrection and its violent aftermath. Meadows has offered to testify, in the federal trial beginning March 4, 2024, against Trump on condition of immunity. His evidence will surely and finally nail Trump.
New York $250 mn. fraud case
Trump’s children were scheduled to testify last week at the New York $250 million fraud case against the Trump Organization. Sons Donald Jr and Eric testified last Wednesday and Thursday. They both testified as expected, stating they had nothing to do with the fraudulent statements filed with the IRS and insurance companies. “The accountants worked on these documents. That is what we pay them for”, said Donald Jr. They both claimed that they just signed whatever papers put before them. This testimony contradicts other evidence, like e-mails, produced by the Court.
Ivanka has appealed the ruling ordering her to testify, on the grounds that she is no longer a resident of New York. The appeal is likely to be rejected, and she will be compelled to testify, probably next week.
Donald Trump is scheduled to testify next Wednesday. Like he did over 440 times in a previous civil case, Trump is likely to “to plead the Fifth”, the constitutional amendment which enables a witness to refuse to answer questions on grounds of self-incrimination. The difference between civil and criminal cases is that while, in criminal cases, a witness who pleads the Fifth cannot have that held against him, in civil cases the judge and/or jury can assume that a witness who pleads the Fifth does so because his answers will be damaging to the case against him.
Election of Speaker in the US House of Representatives
Kevin McCarthy was removed from his post of Speaker, House of Representatives by a handful of far-right Republican members, on October 4. The Republican majority in the House was unable to elect a Speaker till October 25, during which period the House remained rudderless, unable to govern.
Two Representatives, Steve Scalise, a known white supremacist, and Jim Jordan, a prime mover behind Trump’s January 6 insurrection, tried to win the coveted post, but failed to win the necessary majority of votes in their own Party.
After three weeks of chaos, Republicans finally settled on little-known, hard right back-bencher from Louisiana, Mike Johnson, 51, as Speaker. Johnson, an ardent Trumper, with less than seven years of political experience in Washington DC, now holds the post second in line from the presidency, after Vice President Kamala Harris.
Johnson believes the 2020 election was stolen. He also voted against certifying the election after the insurrection on January 6, 2021.
“I think he’s going to be a fantastic Speaker”, Trump said on Wednesday, from the New York courthouse where he’s on trial for business fraud.
Indeed, he’s the ideal Speaker for the Christian, white supremacist, rogue’s gallery that is today’s Republican Party. Johnson opposes reproductive rights for women, LGBTQ rights, gay marriage, and favors every item endorsed by the radical right, white, Christian agenda, including cuts to Social Security and Medicare.
In an interview last week, Johnson said, “I am a Bible-believing Christian. People wonder what Mike Johnson thinks about any issue under the sun. Well, I said, go pick up a Bible off your shelf and read it. That’s my worldview”.
Johnson got off to a flying, hard-right start with his first act as Speaker. He separated President Biden’s proposal of $ 105 billion to fund Israel ($14 billion) and Ukraine ($61 billion), approving funding of $14 billion to Israel, but zero to Ukraine,
The $14 billion aid to Israel also depends on cutting the funding for the tax department (IRS) for the employment of extra staff to police the super-wealthy and the corporations, who will continue to cheat on their taxes. A despicable political stunt that makes humanitarian and military aid to US allies a pawn in the radical-right agenda.
The date of the next government shut-down is just two weeks away, on November 17. The temporary extension of the budget, which kept the government functioning against the will of the Republican hard-right, caused the historic removal of Speaker McCarthy. I wonder what Biblical instructions the Almighty has up His sleeve for Speaker Johnson on this issue, the result of which will affect the lives of all Americans. God only knows.
by Dr Gotabhya Ranasinghe
Senior Consultant Cardiologist
National Hospital Sri Lanka
When we sought a meeting with Hon Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, Minister of Health, he graciously cleared his busy schedule to accommodate us. Renowned for his attentive listening and deep understanding, Minister Pathirana is dedicated to advancing the health sector. His openness and transparency exemplify the qualities of an exemplary politician and minister.
Dr. Palitha Mahipala, the current Health Secretary, demonstrates both commendable enthusiasm and unwavering support. This combination of attributes makes him a highly compatible colleague for the esteemed Minister of Health.
Our discussion centered on a project that has been in the works for the past 30 years, one that no other minister had managed to advance.
Minister Pathirana, however, recognized the project’s significance and its potential to revolutionize care for heart patients.
The project involves the construction of a state-of-the-art facility at the premises of the National Hospital Colombo. The project’s location within the premises of the National Hospital underscores its importance and relevance to the healthcare infrastructure of the nation.
This facility will include a cardiology building and a tertiary care center, equipped with the latest technology to handle and treat all types of heart-related conditions and surgeries.
Securing funding was a major milestone for this initiative. Minister Pathirana successfully obtained approval for a $40 billion loan from the Asian Development Bank. With the funding in place, the foundation stone is scheduled to be laid in September this year, and construction will begin in January 2025.
This project guarantees a consistent and uninterrupted supply of stents and related medications for heart patients. As a result, patients will have timely access to essential medical supplies during their treatment and recovery. By securing these critical resources, the project aims to enhance patient outcomes, minimize treatment delays, and maintain the highest standards of cardiac care.
Upon its fruition, this monumental building will serve as a beacon of hope and healing, symbolizing the unwavering dedication to improving patient outcomes and fostering a healthier society.We anticipate a future marked by significant progress and positive outcomes in Sri Lanka’s cardiovascular treatment landscape within the foreseeable timeframe.
by Fr. Emmanuel Fernando, OMI
Jesuit Fr. Aloysius Pieris (affectionately called Fr. Aloy) celebrated his 90th birthday on April 9, 2024 and I, as the editor of our Oblate Journal, THE MISSIONARY OBLATE had gone to press by that time. Immediately I decided to publish an article, appreciating the untiring selfless services he continues to offer for inter-Faith dialogue, the renewal of the Catholic Church, his concern for the poor and the suffering Sri Lankan masses and to me, the present writer.
It was in 1988, when I was appointed Director of the Oblate Scholastics at Ampitiya by the then Oblate Provincial Fr. Anselm Silva, that I came to know Fr. Aloy more closely. Knowing well his expertise in matters spiritual, theological, Indological and pastoral, and with the collaborative spirit of my companion-formators, our Oblate Scholastics were sent to Tulana, the Research and Encounter Centre, Kelaniya, of which he is the Founder-Director, for ‘exposure-programmes’ on matters spiritual, biblical, theological and pastoral. Some of these dimensions according to my view and that of my companion-formators, were not available at the National Seminary, Ampitiya.
Ever since that time, our Oblate formators/ accompaniers at the Oblate Scholasticate, Ampitiya , have continued to send our Oblate Scholastics to Tulana Centre for deepening their insights and convictions regarding matters needed to serve the people in today’s context. Fr. Aloy also had tried very enthusiastically with the Oblate team headed by Frs. Oswald Firth and Clement Waidyasekara to begin a Theologate, directed by the Religious Congregations in Sri Lanka, for the contextual formation/ accompaniment of their members. It should very well be a desired goal of the Leaders / Provincials of the Religious Congregations.
Besides being a formator/accompanier at the Oblate Scholasticate, I was entrusted also with the task of editing and publishing our Oblate journal, ‘The Missionary Oblate’. To maintain the quality of the journal I continue to depend on Fr. Aloy for his thought-provoking and stimulating articles on Biblical Spirituality, Biblical Theology and Ecclesiology. I am very grateful to him for his generous assistance. Of late, his writings on renewal of the Church, initiated by Pope St. John XX111 and continued by Pope Francis through the Synodal path, published in our Oblate journal, enable our readers to focus their attention also on the needed renewal in the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka. Fr. Aloy appreciated very much the Synodal path adopted by the Jesuit Pope Francis for the renewal of the Church, rooted very much on prayerful discernment. In my Religious and presbyteral life, Fr.Aloy continues to be my spiritual animator / guide and ongoing formator / acccompanier.
Fr. Aloysius Pieris, BA Hons (Lond), LPh (SHC, India), STL (PFT, Naples), PhD (SLU/VC), ThD (Tilburg), D.Ltt (KU), has been one of the eminent Asian theologians well recognized internationally and one who has lectured and held visiting chairs in many universities both in the West and in the East. Many members of Religious Congregations from Asian countries have benefited from his lectures and guidance in the East Asian Pastoral Institute (EAPI) in Manila, Philippines. He had been a Theologian consulted by the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences for many years. During his professorship at the Gregorian University in Rome, he was called to be a member of a special group of advisers on other religions consulted by Pope Paul VI.
Fr. Aloy is the author of more than 30 books and well over 500 Research Papers. Some of his books and articles have been translated and published in several countries. Among those books, one can find the following: 1) The Genesis of an Asian Theology of Liberation (An Autobiographical Excursus on the Art of Theologising in Asia, 2) An Asian Theology of Liberation, 3) Providential Timeliness of Vatican 11 (a long-overdue halt to a scandalous millennium, 4) Give Vatican 11 a chance, 5) Leadership in the Church, 6) Relishing our faith in working for justice (Themes for study and discussion), 7) A Message meant mainly, not exclusively for Jesuits (Background information necessary for helping Francis renew the Church), 8) Lent in Lanka (Reflections and Resolutions, 9) Love meets wisdom (A Christian Experience of Buddhism, 10) Fire and Water 11) God’s Reign for God’s poor, 12) Our Unhiddden Agenda (How we Jesuits work, pray and form our men). He is also the Editor of two journals, Vagdevi, Journal of Religious Reflection and Dialogue, New Series.
Fr. Aloy has a BA in Pali and Sanskrit from the University of London and a Ph.D in Buddhist Philosophy from the University of Sri Lankan, Vidyodaya Campus. On Nov. 23, 2019, he was awarded the prestigious honorary Doctorate of Literature (D.Litt) by the Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya, the Most Venerable Welamitiyawe Dharmakirthi Sri Kusala Dhamma Thera.
Fr. Aloy continues to be a promoter of Gospel values and virtues. Justice as a constitutive dimension of love and social concern for the downtrodden masses are very much noted in his life and work. He had very much appreciated the commitment of the late Fr. Joseph (Joe) Fernando, the National Director of the Social and Economic Centre (SEDEC) for the poor.
In Sri Lanka, a few religious Congregations – the Good Shepherd Sisters, the Christian Brothers, the Marist Brothers and the Oblates – have invited him to animate their members especially during their Provincial Congresses, Chapters and International Conferences. The mainline Christian Churches also have sought his advice and followed his seminars. I, for one, regret very much, that the Sri Lankan authorities of the Catholic Church –today’s Hierarchy—- have not sought Fr.
Aloy’s expertise for the renewal of the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka and thus have not benefited from the immense store of wisdom and insight that he can offer to our local Church while the Sri Lankan bishops who governed the Catholic church in the immediate aftermath of the Second Vatican Council (Edmund Fernando OMI, Anthony de Saram, Leo Nanayakkara OSB, Frank Marcus Fernando, Paul Perera,) visited him and consulted him on many matters. Among the Tamil Bishops, Bishop Rayappu Joseph was keeping close contact with him and Bishop J. Deogupillai hosted him and his team visiting him after the horrible Black July massacre of Tamils.
Sri Lanka-Singapore Free Trade Agreement
By Gomi Senadhira
senadhiragomi@gmail.com
“You might tell fairy tales, but the progress of a country cannot be achieved through such narratives. A country cannot be developed by making false promises. The country moved backward because of the electoral promises made by political parties throughout time. We have witnessed that the ultimate result of this is the country becoming bankrupt. Unfortunately, many segments of the population have not come to realize this yet.” – President Ranil Wickremesinghe, 2024 Budget speech
Any Sri Lankan would agree with the above words of President Wickremesinghe on the false promises our politicians and officials make and the fairy tales they narrate which bankrupted this country. So, to understand this, let’s look at one such fairy tale with lots of false promises; Ranil Wickremesinghe’s greatest achievement in the area of international trade and investment promotion during the Yahapalana period, Sri Lanka-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (SLSFTA).
It is appropriate and timely to do it now as Finance Minister Wickremesinghe has just presented to parliament a bill on the National Policy on Economic Transformation which includes the establishment of an Office for International Trade and the Sri Lanka Institute of Economics and International Trade.
Was SLSFTA a “Cleverly negotiated Free Trade Agreement” as stated by the (former) Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade Malik Samarawickrama during the Parliamentary Debate on the SLSFTA in July 2018, or a colossal blunder covered up with lies, false promises, and fairy tales? After SLSFTA was signed there were a number of fairy tales published on this agreement by the Ministry of Development Strategies and International, Institute of Policy Studies, and others.
However, for this article, I would like to limit my comments to the speech by Minister Samarawickrama during the Parliamentary Debate, and the two most important areas in the agreement which were covered up with lies, fairy tales, and false promises, namely: revenue loss for Sri Lanka and Investment from Singapore. On the other important area, “Waste products dumping” I do not want to comment here as I have written extensively on the issue.
1. The revenue loss
During the Parliamentary Debate in July 2018, Minister Samarawickrama stated “…. let me reiterate that this FTA with Singapore has been very cleverly negotiated by us…. The liberalisation programme under this FTA has been carefully designed to have the least impact on domestic industry and revenue collection. We have included all revenue sensitive items in the negative list of items which will not be subject to removal of tariff. Therefore, 97.8% revenue from Customs duty is protected. Our tariff liberalisation will take place over a period of 12-15 years! In fact, the revenue earned through tariffs on goods imported from Singapore last year was Rs. 35 billion.
The revenue loss for over the next 15 years due to the FTA is only Rs. 733 million– which when annualised, on average, is just Rs. 51 million. That is just 0.14% per year! So anyone who claims the Singapore FTA causes revenue loss to the Government cannot do basic arithmetic! Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, I call on my fellow members of this House – don’t mislead the public with baseless criticism that is not grounded in facts. Don’t look at petty politics and use these issues for your own political survival.”
I was surprised to read the minister’s speech because an article published in January 2018 in “The Straits Times“, based on information released by the Singaporean Negotiators stated, “…. With the FTA, tariff savings for Singapore exports are estimated to hit $10 million annually“.
As the annual tariff savings (that is the revenue loss for Sri Lanka) calculated by the Singaporean Negotiators, Singaporean $ 10 million (Sri Lankan rupees 1,200 million in 2018) was way above the rupees’ 733 million revenue loss for 15 years estimated by the Sri Lankan negotiators, it was clear to any observer that one of the parties to the agreement had not done the basic arithmetic!
Six years later, according to a report published by “The Morning” newspaper, speaking at the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) on 7th May 2024, Mr Samarawickrama’s chief trade negotiator K.J. Weerasinghehad had admitted “…. that forecasted revenue loss for the Government of Sri Lanka through the Singapore FTA is Rs. 450 million in 2023 and Rs. 1.3 billion in 2024.”
If these numbers are correct, as tariff liberalisation under the SLSFTA has just started, we will pass Rs 2 billion very soon. Then, the question is how Sri Lanka’s trade negotiators made such a colossal blunder. Didn’t they do their basic arithmetic? If they didn’t know how to do basic arithmetic they should have at least done their basic readings. For example, the headline of the article published in The Straits Times in January 2018 was “Singapore, Sri Lanka sign FTA, annual savings of $10m expected”.
Anyway, as Sri Lanka’s chief negotiator reiterated at the COPF meeting that “…. since 99% of the tariffs in Singapore have zero rates of duty, Sri Lanka has agreed on 80% tariff liberalisation over a period of 15 years while expecting Singapore investments to address the imbalance in trade,” let’s turn towards investment.
Investment from Singapore
In July 2018, speaking during the Parliamentary Debate on the FTA this is what Minister Malik Samarawickrama stated on investment from Singapore, “Already, thanks to this FTA, in just the past two-and-a-half months since the agreement came into effect we have received a proposal from Singapore for investment amounting to $ 14.8 billion in an oil refinery for export of petroleum products. In addition, we have proposals for a steel manufacturing plant for exports ($ 1 billion investment), flour milling plant ($ 50 million), sugar refinery ($ 200 million). This adds up to more than $ 16.05 billion in the pipeline on these projects alone.
And all of these projects will create thousands of more jobs for our people. In principle approval has already been granted by the BOI and the investors are awaiting the release of land the environmental approvals to commence the project.
I request the Opposition and those with vested interests to change their narrow-minded thinking and join us to develop our country. We must always look at what is best for the whole community, not just the few who may oppose. We owe it to our people to courageously take decisions that will change their lives for the better.”
According to the media report I quoted earlier, speaking at the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) Chief Negotiator Weerasinghe has admitted that Sri Lanka was not happy with overall Singapore investments that have come in the past few years in return for the trade liberalisation under the Singapore-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement. He has added that between 2021 and 2023 the total investment from Singapore had been around $162 million!
What happened to those projects worth $16 billion negotiated, thanks to the SLSFTA, in just the two-and-a-half months after the agreement came into effect and approved by the BOI? I do not know about the steel manufacturing plant for exports ($ 1 billion investment), flour milling plant ($ 50 million) and sugar refinery ($ 200 million).
However, story of the multibillion-dollar investment in the Petroleum Refinery unfolded in a manner that would qualify it as the best fairy tale with false promises presented by our politicians and the officials, prior to 2019 elections.
Though many Sri Lankans got to know, through the media which repeatedly highlighted a plethora of issues surrounding the project and the questionable credentials of the Singaporean investor, the construction work on the Mirrijiwela Oil Refinery along with the cement factory began on the24th of March 2019 with a bang and Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and his ministers along with the foreign and local dignitaries laid the foundation stones.
That was few months before the 2019 Presidential elections. Inaugurating the construction work Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said the projects will create thousands of job opportunities in the area and surrounding districts.
The oil refinery, which was to be built over 200 acres of land, with the capacity to refine 200,000 barrels of crude oil per day, was to generate US$7 billion of exports and create 1,500 direct and 3,000 indirect jobs. The construction of the refinery was to be completed in 44 months. Four years later, in August 2023 the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by President Ranil Wickremesinghe to cancel the agreement with the investors of the refinery as the project has not been implemented! Can they explain to the country how much money was wasted to produce that fairy tale?
It is obvious that the President, ministers, and officials had made huge blunders and had deliberately misled the public and the parliament on the revenue loss and potential investment from SLSFTA with fairy tales and false promises.
As the president himself said, a country cannot be developed by making false promises or with fairy tales and these false promises and fairy tales had bankrupted the country. “Unfortunately, many segments of the population have not come to realize this yet”.
(The writer, a specialist and an activist on trade and development issues . )
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